When Can Kittens Leave Mom Cat
Once the kittens are fully weaned around 10 to 12 weeks old they are old enough to move away from their mama.
When can kittens leave mom cat. This does not mean that this is the time that the kittens can go home though. So when should the separation be done and. A kitten should stay with his mother until a minimum of 10 weeks but preferably 12 weeks. During their first few days of life not only are the kittens both blind and deaf but they are dependent on their mom to regulate their body temperatures for food and even for stimulation to be able to potty.
Benefits of staying with the mother and siblings. The perfect age seems to be between eight and twelve weeks. The best time to separate a kitten from their mother and siblings is when they are 12 13 weeks old. The short answer is that kittens should stay with the mother cat until they are 12 16 weeks old.
While most kittens are weaned by 8 10 weeks most experts recommend leaving kittens with their littermates until 12 13 weeks so they can be properly socialized. The next month of life is still full of essentials for a growing kitten even if it isn t consuming its mother s milk all of the time. Other times you may have encountered a feral or stray with her litter nearby and are probably wondering if there is anything you can do to help. Even though kittens are relatively independent by 8 10 weeks and can survive without their mother.
In fact according to the cat fanciers association one of the ways to tell if a breeder is reputableis that he or she will never sell a kitten younger than 12 weeks old. Why the wait is necessary. During the first week of life mommy cat will leave her babies for only a few brief times each day. Despite this however you should ensure that the earliest your kitten leaves its mother is 4 weeks old.
By the way don t worry about mommy being upset when her babies leave. This is because they will need to stay with their mother to feed on her nutritious milk as well as stay with their siblings to learn valuable social skills. Mother cats will typically start to wean their kittens off their milk at one month of age. Curious as to why this is the recommended age span.
It is especially common among cat owners with unspayed queens and animal minders in shelters where cat litters are common. The earliest a kitten can leave its mother while you may want your kitten to stay as long as is needed with the mother the conditions on ground may leave you with no option. When can kittens leave their mother.